Check out these "I am Angus" segments developed by the American Angus Association:
2011 Purebred Breeder of the Year - Ivanhoe Angus, Belle Plaine, SK
The Saskatchewan Angus Association was honoured to present Ivanhoe Angus, Ron and Marilyn Mountenay with the 2011 Purebred Breeder of the Year. This family run 80 cow operation is well deserving of this award because of their overwhelming contribution to the Angus breed.
Ron and Marilyn would be the first ones to tell you that they share this award with their family. Their parents George and Helen Harlton and Ross and Marjorie Mountenay laid the foundation for this successful family operation. Many will recognize George’s name from his involvement in various organizations and Helen was very pleased to receive the Saskatchewan Angus Honourary President Award in 2000. Ron and Marilyn have three daughters Jennifer (Bernie Larocque), Kathy (Richard Rieder) and Pat (Colin Toner). They also have four grandchildren Will & Brinn Rieder and Ross & Cacey Toner. They have also drawn support from Marilyn’s sister Merle Thomason (and her late husband Roger) and their children Nanette and Jonathan. Leanne Hagerty and Trevor Warken have also been a special part of the Mountenay family. Ron and Marilyn believe that their herd was built and continues to grow because of the dedication of these people.
Currently, Jen is a teacher and Vice Principal at Cando Community School, Cando, SK, just south of North Battleford. She also spent a number of years teaching in remote Northern Saskatchewan. Kathy is also a teacher and Principal at Mankota, SK. She ranches with Richard and his family south of Mankota where they run commercial Angus cattle. Pat works at Viterra in Landis, SK and farms with Colin and his family north of Kelfield where they also run Angus cattle. All three girls very much enjoyed their 4-H and Junior Angus days and Marilyn was very pleased to be on the Saskatchewan Angus board at the same time as Kathy was the Junior Director. Later they both served as elected directors and were very involved with further development of the Saskatchewan Junior Angus Association.
Ivanhoe Farm was started by Charlie Harlton, Marilyn’s grandfather. He raised purebred Shorthorn cattle. Charlie’s involvement in agriculture led to the naming of the Harlton Barn at Evraz Place (Regina Exhibition Park) in his honour. When Marilyn’s father George joined the farm, he introduced Yorkshire swine to their operation. George also had commercial cows consisting of white Shorthorn bulls and Black cows. One of the blue roans resulting from these genetics is still on the farm today. When Marilyn and her sister Merle started 4-H they showed Angus steers and heifers. One of their first Angus 4-H heifers was purchased from Gordon Hollinger. Saskatchewan Angus led Merle and Marilyn to Lexington, Kentucky where they participated in the National Junior Angus Showmanship Contest in 1967. Ron was also an active member in the Bethune 4-H Grain Club.
In 1983, Ron and Marilyn’s daughters joined the Stony Beach 4-H Club and began to share their love of Angus cattle. This led to the purchase of their first purebred Angus heifer, Bell Blackbird 23U for Jennifer from Bell Angus in 1986. This female went on to be Grand Champion female at the Moose Jaw Fair. It was a wonderful start and their love of the Angus business grew. Not being ones to sit on the side lines Ron and Marilyn took on the job of 4-H leader of Stony Beach club and subsequently Marilyn spent many years as a project leader in the Moose Jaw 4-H beef club after the Stony Beach club closed. Marilyn has also sat on the District 8 4-H committee. 4-H has always been a big part of the Mountenay family and it gave them a great deal of pleasure when they were inducted into the District 8 Hall of Fame in 2003. Ron and Marilyn very much also enjoy judging 4-H and Junior shows. The family interest in 4-H extends to their grand children who have already begun to build their own herd. Ross is currently a member of the Handel 4-H beef club and Pat and Colin are continuing the tradition by acting as leaders of the club.
Ron and Marilyn’s love of showing cattle did not stop at 4-H. They exhibited cattle from Swift Current to Weyburn and many points in between. They were extremely proud of the time they were awarded Grand Champion female at the Weyburn Fair with Ivanhoe Black Lucy 14B. You were sure to see Ivanhoe exhibiting cattle at many of the early Gold Shows and they were also involved in helping organise the Gold Show in Regina and the first one in Moose Jaw. Ron also took a keen interest in helping a close neighbour, Ward Mortensen show prospect steers along with the help of Pat and Colin.
For those of you who have shown at Agribition you know the tireless efforts of Ron and Marilyn to help out with the show. Ron and Marilyn have marshalled and help weigh cattle and Marilyn helps organise and hand out the prizes every year. Ron has been barn boss for the Angus barn and loves helping groom cattle for anyone who asks. Marilyn helped organize the 40th anniversary celebrations of Canadian Western Agribition and had the honour of burning the brand with Merle in 2009 on behalf of the Harlton Family. After all the purebred events are over at the beginning of the week at Agribition you would find them Friday morning helping out with the commercial breakfast.
Both Ron and Marilyn have sat on a number of boards and committees in many different capacities. Marilyn spent ten years on the Saskatchewan Angus Association board. Ron is a past president of the Saskatchewan Livestock Association and the Saskatchewan Swine Breeders’ Association. Ron has been a director on the Canadian Western Agribition board, the Moose Jaw Exhibition board, a member of the Moose Jaw 4-H Regional committee and the Regina Bull Sale committee. Marilyn acted as chair for the Regina Spring Steer and Heifer show, co-chair of the 100th Anniversary Committee of the Regina Bull Sale and was a member of the five species judging committee’s at Regina Exhibition and Agribition. Ron is also past chairman of the Gateway Sale group. Their involvement does not end with the Angus breed and the livestock industry, they have also worked tirelessly on school boards, at community club events and for local sports teams.
Ron and Marilyn will tell you that the success of their operation has relied on the support of fellow breeders who helped them get on their feet when they were just starting out in the breed. They are extremely thankful to John and Marg Willmott who leased them two of their foundation bulls when they only had a small number of cows. These two bulls, Wilmo Investment 11U and Wilmo Investment 9W, helped contribute to building the foundation females they have today. They followed these two bulls up with other influential sires like Youngdale Line 152X; Sandy Bar Matlock 67Z; Wiwa Creek Stockman; and Wiwa Creek Tex. Females were purchased, many from the Masterpiece Sale, and are still influencing the herd today – Royal Angus, Crescent Creek, Toner’s, Kenosee Park and Bell’s to name a few.
When called upon, Ivanhoe Angus has always been very generous with donating back to Angus events, 4-H and Regional shows and the Agribition show, with both monetary support, and their many volunteer hours. The Canadian Junior Angus Association were extremely thankful to Ivanhoe Angus for donating the of pick of their 2009 heifer calves with the funds generated going into their scholarship fund. Ivanhoe has now diversified into the Red Angus business after they won Red Lazy MC Dream 96X in that same Dutch auction in 2010.
Ivanhoe Angus, along with their partners Brooke’s Edge Angus, market bulls and females in a number of different sales in the Moose Jaw area. They sold bulls through the Regina Bull Sale for twenty two years. One of their proudest moments came when they won the best group of five bulls in 2009. They have also marketed bulls through the Triple A and Last Chance bull sales. In 2011 Ivanhoe embarked on a new endeavour with their first annual bull sale along with partners City View Simmental this spring. They have sold females through the Masterpiece, Gateway and Triple A sales. Private female sales have extended from close neighbours to as far away as Russia and Ron and Marilyn appreciate their many commercial customers and friends in the industry.
You can see this dynamic family is well deserving of being awarded the 2011 Purebred Breeder of the Year. Their many and varied contributions are what we all strive towards. Congratulations Ron and Marilyn Mountenay and family.■
2010 Commercial Breeder of the Year - Doerksen Family, Herbert, SK
The 2010 Saskatchewan Angus Commercial Producer of the Year award goes to the Doerksen family of Herbert. The award is shared by Trevor, Sarah, Derek and Matt who all work hard towards making everyday ranch life happen. Since moving back to the farm over 10 years ago this hard working family most importantly enjoy the rural lifestyle. The Doersken’s live 20 minutes north of Herbert and have been surrounded by excellent friends, family and best of all neighbours.
With over 100 head of Angus based cows and the aspirations of growing the herd the realization of the work and effort to grow things along is there. Starting from scratch has made the ride all the more enjoyable. The herd was originated from neighbours and good friends, Archie and Rosemary Gannon and a quality set of cows put them in the right direction. The Gannon family has been instrumental in helping the boys along in so many ways as Derek and Matt will take on orphan calves that are twins and feed and care for them. This, the boys say, has been a great source of income and a start for their own Angus herd. The Gannon’s have also been excellent with the boys helping them get started with 4-H which the boys thoroughly enjoy.
The herd is calved in early April with branding being the May long weekend which includes many friends, family and neighbours as well. With two young boys that love to get dirty and work, you know that they will be anchoring the brandings in the future to come. Bulls have been purchased from Wiwa Creek Angus, Forsyth Ranch and Beverly Hills Angus and when selecting Trevor likes lots of length, muscle and hair on the bulls. Amongst the other traits of easy fleshing, calving ability and performance are the reasons why the Doerksen family like the Angus breed and the abilities it offers. 
Replacements are selected from the herd with all the convenience traits Angus offer in mind. Trevor hauls cattle locally, on what seems almost every day of the year, being a great service provided for the community, as he won’t say no and he is always more than eager to help sort the cattle. In other words when you like cattle and people as much as this family does, it sure does not seem like work, and that’s a great job!
Sarah works part time as a dental assistant in Swift Current and when she is not working she is taking the kids to school sports or other community activities which the boys are involved in. If you have ever met Derek and Matt you will instantly realize the energy that runs through these two firecrackers, they are always in the midst of the work and are happy to help out. They are a pair of extremely capable young men that have a real love for cattle, horses, farm life and
people. Huge smiles are almost always on their faces and with lending a hand on the farm feeding cows, calves, horses or just about anything else you can think of one can only admire the drive they have. Parental influence is not the driving force on their work habits either, they just love to do it.
4-H is big time for the Doerksen family as Trevor and Sarah are always there to help and the boys act like it’s Christmas when they are working with the cattle. With only two years of 4-H under their belt these boys will be heard from in the future. Matt earned Reserve Champion Steer at the Swift Current Regional 4-H show last summer with his home raised steer, while brother Derek won his class with his home raised steer. In fact, five of the 12 steers in the Championship Class were all from the Doerksen herd and sported the family brand. While selecting cattle for the show ring is the last thing that crosses Trevor’s mind, his satisfaction comes from the fact that his goals of raising cattle with muscle, length, hair and eye appeal is in fact being accomplished. A sign that Angus do a lot of things right! Congratulations to the Doerksen Family on being awarded the 2010 Commercial Producer of the Year!
The Saskatchewan Livestock Association presented their annual Honour Scrolls at the
Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference Banquet on Friday, January 21, 2011
Four families were honoured: Grant & Chris Alexander of Weyburn, SK; Doug Howe of Moose Jaw, SK; Mervyn Timmons of Swift Current, SK and Jim Wilson of Maple Creek, SK.
Grant and Chris raise Shorthorn cattle and have been very involved in many agriculture organizations, including Canadian Western Agribition. Their purebred herd was established in 1917 by Grant’s grandfather.
Doug is no stranger to most Angus breeders, and along with his family continues to raise Charolais and Red Angus cattle south of Moose Jaw. Doug also manages cattle sales and has become very involved in the horse industry. He actively races and trains his own horses.
Mervyn, at 83 years of age, is still actively ranching just outside of Swift Current. He and his cattle are well known in the area and he is always willing to lend a helping hand at branding’s and rodeo’s. He is very proud of his ranching heritage and his comments at the conference were of his good “Black Angus” cattle and his 60+ years of ranching.
Unfortunately Jim Wilson was unable to attend the awards ceremony due to health reasons but the plaque will be given to him at a later date this spring. Jim ranches south of Maple Creek and raises Angus cattle. He is also very well known as a co-owner of Cow Town Livestock Auction in Maple Creek, a marketer and auctioneer.
The Saskatchewan Livestock Association, formerly the Saskatchewan Livestock Board, since 1927, has presented Honour Scrolls at each Annual Livestock Convention to persons who were considered worthy of this high honour because of their outstanding contribution to the Livestock Industry, to their Community and the Province. To-date 240 people have been honoured.
Purebred Breeder of the Year - Howe Family, Moose Jaw, SK
Howe Red Angus is part of a family run operation located ten miles south of Moose Jaw, in the Baildon District, where they run a mixed farming operation. The farm consists of a cross section of cereal grains for silage and feed as well as irrigation to support the crops and alfalfa hay. The Howe family has been on the current farm since 1951 when Dale’s father moved up from the Mitchelson district. Together the Howe Family runs a mixed farming operation with about 400 cows, made up of Red Angus, Charolais and commercials along with seven quarters of irrigated land in which they rotate grain and hay. Mike is the one which most of you associate with in the Howe Red Angus program but his parents Dale and Lois and brother Kelly, are also involved allowing Mike to be out on the road promoting their Red Angus cattle. As most of you know, in order to do this you need a good crew at home.
Mike’s first Red Angus cow was purchased in the fall of 1987. He went on a trip to Arcola with his grandparents and dad to one of the Moose Creek Red Angus production sales. His grandparents bought nine head that day and on the way home he swung a deal to buy the high priced cow out of the group from them. 41T was her number and she cost $900 that day. Not a bad investment. That one cow, working along with his family, has grown into 150 breeding females. They started into the Red Angus breed because they felt it was a beautiful fit with their Charolais operation. They have several bull sale customers who use both breeds. What anyone can and does appreciate about the Howe family is their common sense approach and what you see is what you get. The cattle have worked well all over the world with their main focus being the commercial bull customers which are first and foremost. If you have taken the time to visit with Mike, Kelly, Dale or Uncle Doug you will appreciate their sincerity and the approach which they put into action in their breeding program.
Some very influential bulls in the Howe program have been Rab Star 56C who was brought in from Buck Valley Ranch in Manitoba. Over the years the Rab Star females have proven to be stalwarts in any herd in which they have been implemented and he is definitely a bull which can be counted on to produce offspring that work. In fact, Howes have gone back to the AI tank and implemented this herd legend into their AI program again to further establish and solidify the longevity of their females which is surely a Rab Star trademark.
Bar EL Ribeye 103R is another bull who’s future is sparkling as he is delivering quality in both bulls and heifers which 
makes Angus cattle popular and a logical choice. Ribeye has sired a number of top selling progeny for the Howe family in the past few years, being popular not only with the commercial breeders, but attracting purebred breeders who are wanting to add this positive influence to their herd. Red VII Dominor 2N is another recent herdbull that has done a solid job in producing the kind of cattle needed in the industry, they are stout, deep sided bulls with tremendous feet and the daughters are really starting to shine as they come into their prime. Red Lazy MC Hustle is also a recent addition that sired the High Selling Bull in this years bull sale and besides offering the basic ingredients he sports an outcross pedigree to further the Red Angus gene pool. Some very influential cows have been the Envious cow family which originated from the Ippolito program and the Creston cow family which came from the Mackenzie’s.
The Howe family has a very successful bull sale each spring on the first Wednesday in April. They just held their 20th Annual Bull Sale this spring where they were honored with the 2010 Purebred Breeder of the Year award. They also sell females in the Red Roundup and Masterpiece Sales. The Howes spend a great deal of time showing and promoting their program. They take cattle to Red Roundup, Brandon and Agribition and are successful at it. Promotion is very important in the breed and if you don’t show anyone what you have they will never see it. Mike is involved as a volunteer with our associations and organizations, having spent time on the Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society board and he now sits on the Saskatchewan Angus Association board of directors. He has also sat on different committees for Agribition.
Mike does some judging and has had the opportunity to judge a number of 4-H Regionals, various youth shows as well as the Galloway Show and the First Lady Classic at Agribition.
Mike and the Howe family are extremely involved in a lot of aspects in the Angus breed and are considered true promoters and breeders wanting the very best for the Red Angus breed and the industry. The Howe family is very honoured to receive the 2010 Purebred Breeder of the Year.
